Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When dealing with adults with an intellectual disability, stability and routine are very important. When one disrupts that stability and routine in terms of services, it causes a huge crisis which is what the families have told me. I am disappointed the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is not in the Chamber because disability is her specific reasonability.

The Minister of State mentioned the challenges, including the Sunday closing, which is a disgraceful cut. He also mentioned transport. Parents have been told to transport their children with physical and intellectual disabilities to the centres themselves which some cannot do.

We are coming up to the budget and I urge the Minister of State, Deputy White, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to ensure disability services are top of the agenda. They promised they would protect the vulnerable and now is their opportunity to do so. I urge the Minister to listen to the parents and to look at the savings which have already been made by St. Michael's.

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